Is it possible to make your favorite soup even better? We say yes. With so much flavor and variety, you can pretty much count on Jeff’s Naturals olives and peppers to pair perfectly with most of your favorite soup!

One of his recent creations, Orzo Salad With Artichoke Hearts & Kalamata Olives, absolutely knocked our socks off during one of our taste tests. (By the way, taste testing Chef’s P.K.’s dishes is our favorite kind of meeting. It’s hard work, but someone has to do it!)

Like many of Chef P.K.’s creations, this colorful dish has a very easy going California/Napa Valley/Mediterranean flavor to it that’s irresistible. It’s light, yet satisfying and can be made in less than 20 minutes and is a perfect side dish for potlucks or gatherings, tailgating, a picnic, a quick weeknight dinner (just add some diced grilled chicken) or lunch on-the-go!

*Calculated ingredients may not always be as accurate as the original recipe.

Directions

Finely chop the vegetables and olives for the olive salad. Combine all salad ingredients; set aside.

Cut the loaf of bread in half crosswise. Use a small, serrated knife to score the inside of both halves about 1″ from the crust. Hollow the bread halves by pulling out the insides with your hands. Leave shells about 1″ thick. Save the bread chunks for other uses.

Spoon salad into bottom half of loaf. Layer 2 oz. cheese over the salad. Top with one type of meat; repeat.

Finish layering with last of cheese and meat. Top with tomato and lettuce.

Use an electric knife to cut the sandwich into four wedges. If you don’t have one, use a very sharp serrated knife. Just saw carefully and don’t press too hard–or you might squish the entire filling out.

Break out the dressings because May is National Salad Month! Celebrate the greener side of life by eating a plate of delicious healthy vegetables, spiced up with Jeff’s Natural’s range of healthy, non-GMO products!

If you’re in need of a little salad inspiration, you should check out our new recipes below! With so much variety, we’re pretty sure you’ll be asking yourself “what hamburger?”

As you plan your next meal, why not try cooking with farro, the ancient grain with tremendous health benefits?

Farro is a whole grain wheat, larger than barley grain and possessing a similar taste. It’s very simple to cook on a stovetop, also great when prepared in a rice maker or a pressure cooker. It’s often used as an alternative to rice or pasta for all the nutritious qualities it contains.

Interested yet? Check out our top five reasons to love farro:

#1 Great Way to Up Your Vitamin B3 & Magnesium Intake
Farro is an excellent source of Vitamin B3, instrumental in improving your body’s metabolism. It’s also a great choice for your daily dose of Magnesium, which strengthens your blood pressure, bone strength, and overall cardiac health.

#2- This Supergrain is Rich in Anti-Oxidants
The anti-oxidants present in farro help prevent degenerative diseases and general cardiovascular problems.

#3 Great Source of Protein
Yes, it’s true! Farro contains about 15% protein, with 7 grams of protein found in a single serving!

#4 Cholesterol-Free
Not only is farro cholesterol-free, a full bowl has 8 grams of cholesterol-lowering fiber in it! An excellent choice for anyone watching their weight.

#5 Contains Complex Carbohydrates
The complex carbohydrates present in farro extend its digestion time, thus leaving you with more energy throughout the day.

So now you know why you should be cooking with farro but you may be wondering how to cook with it?

Consider these easy-to-make recipes below using Jeff’s Naturals line of certified non-GMO olives & peppers as an entry point into the delicious world of farro.

Bring 6 cups of salted water to a boil. Add farro and cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until tender to bite. Farro has a natural bite and chewiness to it when it’s cooked through. Drain farro in a colander and set aside until slightly cooled.

In the meantime, in a large mixing bowl, add the edamame, peas, broccolini, green onions, olives, olive oil, lemon juice and zest.

Add farro to large mixing bowl and toss all ingredients together. Add the herbs, season with salt and pepper to taste and serve!

Chefs Note: Feel free to play with this recipe and use any vegetable or herb in season. Asparagus, green beans, thyme or basil would all be wonderful. It will taste the best when the produce is the freshest!

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil and add farro. Let cook about 10 minutes until tender to bite. Drain farro in a colander and set aside.

While faro is cooking, add the minced shallot, balsamic, olive oil, parsley with some salt and pepper to taste, in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked faro and mix to coat. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine.

Great served room temp or cold.

For more delicious and healthy recipes head on over to our Recipes page.

“Ugh…Pasta for dinner again?”

Does this sound familiar? If so, may we suggest adding a little twist to your regular quick weeknight dish? Why not throw in some Jeff’s Naturals sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini to liven things up! A little bit goes a long way to bring plenty flavor and fun to the table!

The possibilities are endless, you just have to get creative!

For instance, did you know you could liven up any sandwich or wrap with a hearty helping of our peperoncini? You can also toss peperoncini into a mixed green salad or top it on a pizza for an extra punch of flavor!

Who knew there were so many ways peperoncini can save dinner?

Here are 3 easy recipes that just may become an instant classic for you and your family! And with so little prep or need for a clean up, these dishes also made an ideal weeknight dinner (very helpful as the kids head back to school!).

Preparation
Boil Pasta according to the directions on the package. Rinse under cold water and drain thoroughly. Add pasta to a medium sized bowl along with the remaining ingredients. Blend together. The pasta salad may be served immediately or stored covered in the refrigerator for the following day. Enjoy!

Heat 1/4 c. olive oil and prepare turkey meatballs according to package directions. Add pasta sauce and simmer on low. While meatballs are cooking, slice onion and cook in a skillet on medium high heat with remaining olive oil until edges are caramelized.

Open sandwich rolls and place on a baking sheet. Place onions on one side of the sandwich rolls. Place peperoncinis on the other side and top with provolone cheese. Heat in oven for five minutes, or until cheese melts. Remove pan from oven and add turkey meatballs to sandwiches. Serve with remaining sauce.

Preparation
Combine all of the ingredients together in a stainless or non-reactive bowl, and toss together. Allow to marinate 15 minutes. Toss again before serving. Serve on nicely arranged lettuce leaves.

A traditional Mediterranean diet is heart healthy and budget friendly. It consists of large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, less red meat and dairy and no processed foods, refined sugars and flour.

These salads are Mediterranean classics with a modern twist. You will find these recipes to be simple yet versatile enough to be used as a side dish and hearty enough to be the main course. Hope you enjoy!

Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk briskly to combine and blend. Set aside. Place greens, red onion and basil in large shallow bowl (like a pasta bowl). Gently toss to mix.

Scatter olives over the greens. Arrange tomatoes on the outer perimeter of the bowl. Scatter cheese over the center of the salad. Re-whisk the vinaigrette and drizzle over the salad and serve immediately.